OTTAWA, June 15th, 2016 – Demographic data from Elections Canada further confirms young Canadians had a major impact on the 2015 federal election. Today’s report shows a significant increase in voter participation among young Canadians aged 18 to 34 with the highest overall turnout among Canada’s youngest electorate; those between the ages of 18 to 24.

“With voter turnout up nearly 20 points among those 18 to 24, and up 12 points among those 25 to 34, young Canadians solidified their voices as a powerful voting group”, said Michael McDonald, Executive Director of the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA).

Efforts by grass roots organizations like CASA, CIVIX and Apathy is Boring to increase voter participation among young Canadians proved pivotal in deciding the outcome of the election. In the lead up to the election, CASA’s 21 member associations ran a national non-partisan voter mobilization campaign encouraging post-secondary students to vote.

In April, CASA commissioned a study by Abacus Data previewing young Canadians impact on the election. The study found that for the first time since 1997, young voters coalesced around one political party. It concluded that young Canadians were critical to the Liberal majority victory.

“Today’s report overthrows the notion of voter apathy among young Canadians. Political parties need to see young Canadians as an influential voting group and respond with policy solutions addressed to their needs”, said McDonald.

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About CASA Established in 1995, the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA) is a non-partisan, not-for-profit national student organization composed of 21 student associations representing 250,000 post-secondary students from coast to coast. CASA advocates for a Canadian post-secondary education system that is accessible, affordable, innovative, and of the highest quality.